McCannel has high hopes for Cougars
Feb. 26, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
The Winter Olympics won't be the only event in Canada this weekend stressing the highest finishes possible.
The Canada West track and field championships are set for today and Saturday in Edmonton. While team and individual titles are on the line, the top two finishers in each event also earn the right to compete in the CIS championships, March 11-13 in Windsor, Ont.
The University of Regina Cougars are sending 44 athletes -- 23 males and 21 females -- to the Canada West meet and interim head coach Bruce McCannel is hoping for a bevy of podium finishes.
"Having either team finish in the top two in Canada West would be outstanding," McCannel said. "Canada West is known as a very strong conference ... so that kind of performance (by the Cougars) would be great."
The men's team goes into the championships ranked second in the conference behind the Saskatchewan Huskies, but McCannel believes the Cougars can get onto the top step of the podium.
"We're in the running," he said. "Any time you're going to a meet like this, you want to go in with a chance -- and we have that."
Leading the way for the Cougars in Edmonton will be Les Andersen, who's slated to compete in six events. Along with participating individually in the 60-metre sprint, 60m hurdles, long jump and triple jump, Andersen is slated to run with the Cougars' 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams.
Jeremy Eckert (pentathlon, high jump, long jump) and Justin Baker (pentathlon, 60m, 4x400m relay) also have opportunities to earn significant points for Regina's men.
On the women's side, Chelsea Valois will be a key contributor for the Cougars. She's entered in five events: The 60m hurdles, the long jump, the high jump, the 4x200m relay and the 4x400m relay.
Nicole Breker (60m hurdles, long jump, triple jump) also is expected to produce points for the women's team.
"Finishing in the top two would be an outstanding achievement for (the women's squad)," McCannel said. "The U of S is ranked very highly and then there's a group of schools that are fighting for second and hoping to move up. We're right in that group."
The Cougars are ranked No. 3 in the conference, behind the Huskies and Alberta Pandas.
McCannel expects between 15 and 20 U of R athletes to qualify for the CIS championships. Some already have done so by meeting automatic qualifying standards, while he believes others will advance thanks to top-two finishes in Edmonton.